Believe It or Don't! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Buddhism

Buddhism originated in the Indian subcontinent somewhere around the 6-5th century BC. It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who gave up his wealth and riches upon seeing the suffering in the world. Buddhism encompasses various practices that are believed to help followers break the cycle of rebirth and attain Nirvana - ultimate liberation of the soul.

The Eightfold Path consists of eight practices to lead followers to this aim and includes right speech, right conduct, and mindfulness, among others.

Answer: Hinduism

In the Hindu pantheon of gods, Vishnu is one of the main deities. Along with Shiva and Brahma, he forms the Hindu trimurti ("trinity"). Vishnu's role is that of the preserver or protector and it is in this context that his ten avatars are to be seen. Known as "Dashavatara", this refers to the ten different forms taken by Vishnu to preserve or protect the cosmic order from harm.

Answer: Sikhism

Sikhism originated in the northern part of India, more specifically the Punjab region, in the 15th century. Founded by Guru Nanak, Sikhism believes in One Supreme Being. The 5 Ks are symbols or articles of the faith as laid down by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.

These are kesh (uncut hair - Sikhs, both men and women, do not cut their hair), kanga (a wooden comb), kirpan (a dagger), kara (an iron bracelet worn by both men and women), and kachera (a cotton vest).

Answer: Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism originated in Persia (now Iran) and can be traced back to the 2nd millennium BC, making it one of the world's oldest religions. It is named after Zoroaster, a Persian prophet who first articulated these teachings. The religion flourished in the region until the neighbouring Muslim kingdoms conquered Persia in the 7th century AD. To escape religious persecution, many Zoroastrians fled to India, which continues to have the largest number of practicing Zoroastrians.

Answer: Islam

The basic tenet of Islam is summarized as "There is only one God and Muhammad is his messenger". Tawheed, the oneness of God, is fundamental to Islam and the Christian concept of the trinity (God in three forms as Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is therefore considered a form of polytheism. Islam is the second largest religion in the world, after Christianity, and its followers are called Muslims.

The Quran, which is believed to have been revealed to prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel, is the central book of Islam.

Answer: Baha'i

The Baha'i faith originated in Iran relatively recently, in the mid 19th century. It was founded by the religious leader Bahá'u'lláh, who declared himself a prophet of God, following the footsteps of earlier prophets like Jesus and Muhammad. The Bab founded Babism and declared that God would soon send another prophet to preach to his people and Bahá'u'lláh later declared himself to be that prophet.

As a result, the Bab is considered a central figure of the Baha'i religion and a forerunner to the Bahá'u'lláh - similar to the role of John the Baptist and Jesus in the Christian faith.

Answer: Judaism

Judaism is another one of the world's oldest religions. It believes that the world and all that is in it was created by God. Man's original sin, committed by Adam and Eve, separated us from God, though God then brought the Jewish people back to him through specific covenants with patriarchs like Abraham and Jacob.

The oneness of God is a central tenet of Judaism. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is observed once a year when the Jewish community as a whole gathers to fast and pray for forgiveness of sins.

Answer: Scientology

Scientology is a religion that was developed by the American author L. Ron Hubbard in the 1950s. He described it by stating, "Scientology means knowing about knowing, or science of knowledge". Its name itself is derived from the Latin word "scio", meaning to know, and the Greek word "logos", meaning reason.

In Scientology, the Greek letter theta represents the source of life. The thetan is thus the immortal soul that exists within each person.

Answer: Confucianism

Confucianism is more a philosophy or way of life than an organized religion. It developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius who lived between 5th-4th century BC. Built on the earlier ancient traditions of China, Confucianism stresses correct behaviour and order within the hierarchy to preserve harmony within families and in society. If each person conformed to their roles within their families and social orders, a perfect society could be achieved.

Answer: Christianity

Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God who took human form to die for our sins. Crucified on the cross, he was resurrected on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God, according to the Bible. From the first sin of Adam and Eve, humankind had been separated from God and it took the death of his only son to redeem us. Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross, making a way for us to be brought back into God's family.

This core tenet is a feature of all the various Christian denominations.